The Darkest Essence of Humanity  

(Oh ho ho, what a fascinating analysis, young human! However, hehehe... these are merely your wishful speculations. They may seem reasonable, but is that truly the case?) 

(Let us entertain a hypothesis, shall we? What if, I say what if, that little girl merely happened to appear in a place where she should not have been and crossed paths with you by chance? Hehehe... how would you then respond?) 

With a cold gaze, Xiao Mu Yu quietly glanced at the little fox, who was clearly shaken by the truth of the matter, resting on his shoulder. He lifted his head, continuing his cruel and unyielding dissection of the harsh realities of this world. 

"Ah, the possibility of your hypothesis cannot be entirely dismissed. Thus, I chose not to leave immediately but remained to observe her for a while." 

(Oh? And what was the outcome? Hehehe... Did you discover anything? Did you find that she was merely an innocent, pitiful, naive girl? Were your earlier judgments nothing more than meaningless conjectures? Is that why you decided to stay at her home?) 

"No, quite the opposite. My judgment was only reinforced." 

Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly, "Did you not notice how she solicited customers on the street? Each time, she feigned hesitation, yet always approached those who were clearly local residents, never once attempting to engage with any obvious travelers." 

"If you claim this is mere coincidence, consider that in a span of half an hour, she approached dozens of individuals, all of whom were locals. Do you truly believe such coincidences are plausible?" 

(Oh, oh, oh, there's a problem! Indeed, there's a problem! Your words have illuminated my understanding, hehehe... You are quite astute, young human, hahahaha... But if you have already determined that the poor, beautiful girl is questionable, why then did you agree to her invitation? I do not recall you having a penchant for placing yourself in others' schemes.) 

"In that moment when the woman detained me, I indeed wished to distance myself and avoid this conflict. However, upon reflection, I realized that such a choice would be the most foolish." 

Gently patting the despondent little fox on his shoulder, Xiao Mu Yu continued indifferently, "Once I have entered their line of sight and become their target, there is no escaping. To simply evade would lead to a gradual entrapment within their rhythm, leaving me with no options but to passively follow their lead, ultimately allowing them to achieve their objectives." 

"This is a perilous situation! For the intentions of the adversary are utterly unpredictable. After all, they have covertly seized control of a city. Being within this city, if I were to confront them, I would inherently be at a disadvantage. Therefore, the only prudent course of action is to engage with them while there is still room to maneuver, seizing the initiative." Xiao Mu Yu stated coldly. 

(Hehehe... What a captivating and vivid tale, hahahaha... So, you chose to follow that little girl to her home? Well then, young human, I have a question: if, as you say, all of this is a fabrication, a conspiracy, how then do you explain the series of events that followed?) 

(That nobleman Joseph, that poor mother, and so forth—are they all mere illusions? Yet that unfortunate mother met a dreadful fate, tsk tsk... According to your reasoning, that mother was indeed quite dedicated, immersing herself so deeply in her role that she ultimately played herself to death, hahahaha...) 

"The events that transpired contained both truth and deception," Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly. 

(Oh? Then tell me, which aspects were genuine and which were false? Allow me to see what, in your eyes, now filled with suspicion after my previous trickery, can be deemed true rather than illusory... Hahahaha...) 

"..." Coldly ignoring the taunts, Xiao Mu Yu stated flatly, "Historically, the most effective deceptions have never been those flawlessly executed schemes, for perfection, in a sense, is the greatest flaw. Rather, half-truths often ensnare countless seasoned individuals who have weathered many storms." 

"The actions of that middle-aged nobleman Joseph were clearly just a part of the ruse. After all, any normal man witnessing such a tragic scene, especially when the victim is a beautiful woman, would find it impossible to remain composed." 

"Even if he harbored no ill intentions towards her, the primal instinct to possess and dominate is inherent in male animals. Jealousy, too, is humanity's original sin. For a normal man, the more repulsive that middle-aged nobleman appears, the more stunning the girl named Yaya is, the greater the emotional upheaval in response to the entire event." 

Xiao Mu Yu continued coldly, "When he finds himself in such a narrative, witnessing that beautiful, pitiable girl being subjected to the vile advances of an odious middle-aged nobleman, he is bound to feel a sense of injustice." 

"It is not about sympathy for the girl, but rather, a grievance against himself. In the face of such circumstances, a normal man might think, 'That wretched old fool has no right to possess such a remarkable girl! I am infinitely more deserving! If she must be claimed, it should be by me!'" Xiao Mu Yu stated with an icy tone. 

"A man harboring such thoughts, if powerless to change the situation, can only, like the onlookers, internally curse that middle-aged nobleman and envy him. However, if this man not only encounters this scenario but also possesses the means to alter the outcome, what do you suppose will happen?" Xiao Mu Yu asked coldly. 

(Hehehe... I recall that you humans refer to such behavior as 'a hero saving a damsel in distress,' right? Hahahaha... Young human, I find myself increasingly appreciating you! Your rhetoric is becoming quite endearing! Hehehe... Regardless of how grandiloquent the phrases may be, they invariably reveal the most fundamental ugliness within you... Hahahaha...) 

"Indeed, it is called 'a hero saving a damsel in distress.' Yet, no matter how lavishly it is adorned with eloquent language, such actions merely reflect the dark impulses of humanity intertwined with their hormones." 

Xiao Mu Yu replied coldly, "A normal man, upon witnessing such a situation, would likely succumb to primal urges, heedlessly stepping into the trap laid before him, allowing himself to be led astray."